War God Long Ao

Long Ao knew that things had reached a point of no return.

After several confrontations, the animosity between him, the Imperial City, and the Third Level Long Family had become irreconcilable. It was a kill-or-be-killed situation.

Especially this most recent time, he had slain a full four Realm Emperors and forty Realm Kings. The implications were staggering.

It would be more surprising if the Four Great Forces were to let this slide.

Long Ao was already prepared to face whatever came his way.

Seeing that Long Ao remained silent, Long Chen already knew what was on his mind. He shrugged helplessly and said, "Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t insist. I just hope that, for the sake of our friendship, you can promise me one thing."

Nodding, Long Ao had already guessed what it was without Long Chen needing to say more.

"I promise you, no matter what happens in the future, I will not wipe out the Long Family."

"Thank you," Long Chen smiled. Although it sounded a bit absurd, for some reason, he had a persistent feeling that the young man before him would one day be able to crush his own clan.

He didn’t want to see it happen, but he felt that day would inevitably arrive.

"Long Ao, the family has already told the Long Clan about you."

’The Long Clan?’

Hearing that Long Mowen had told the Long Clan that he was a Dragon Martial Artist, Long Ao’s expression grew a little grave. Regardless, the strength and heritage of the Long Clan were on a completely different level, far beyond what the Third Level Long Family could ever compare to.

’If the Long Clan decides to move against me, how could I possibly resist?’

Long Ao didn’t dare to imagine it. But what he couldn’t figure out was why the Long Clan, knowing about him, had yet to make a move.

After all, the Long Clan had a clear rule: disciples of any Long Family below the Third Level were forbidden from becoming Dragon Martial Artists. Any who were discovered would be killed without question.

As if guessing what Long Ao was thinking, Long Chen gave a helpless smile.

"Long Ao, you should be safe for the time being."

"Why is that?"

Long Ao grew even more curious, but he chose to trust Long Chen. After all, as the top expert of his Third Level Clan, there were many things others might not know that Long Chen would.

"If it were anyone else, I believe the Long Clan would have already decided their fate—whether they live or die."

After a moment of thought, Long Chen continued, "But you, Long Ao, are too much of a variable. In less than a year, you’ve already grown to this extent. If I’m not mistaken, the Long Clan has likely started paying attention to you. They simply want to gauge your potential."

"What do you mean?"

Long Ao’s curiosity piqued. ’Does this mean the Long Clan doesn’t plan to move against me?’

"The Long Clan isn’t quite like the rumors say, that they’ll kill any and every person who becomes a Dragon Martial Artist without question."

"They don’t?"

Shaking his head, Long Chen said, "Of course not. Unless one enters Dragon Valley, it’s a different story. Dragon Valley isn’t the only place in the world where Giant Dragons exist, after all. When someone becomes a Dragon Martial Artist, the Long Clan will observe them. Those with good talent and potential are brought directly into the Long Clan to be specially cultivated. As for those who don’t measure up, the Long Clan reclaims their Giant Dragon and leaves the disciple to their own fate."

So that’s how it is.

’It seems the rumors aren’t entirely true.’

Long Ao was no fool; he understood what Long Chen meant. It was simple: the Long Clan knew he was a Dragon Martial Artist, and the reason they hadn’t acted yet was because they wanted to observe him for a while longer to see if he was worth cultivating.

’If my talent and potential are truly deemed worthy by the Long Clan, then my luck will have turned. Not only would I receive the Long Clan’s special cultivation, but I would also soar to new heights. After that, would the Four Great Forces still dare to oppose me?’

’But if the Long Clan decides my potential and talent are lacking, then I’d be out of luck. Not only would they reclaim my Dragon Companion, but my very survival would be uncertain.’

’In the end, it all comes down to talent and strength.’

Long Ao understood one thing even more clearly: no matter how powerful he became, in the eyes of the Long Clan, he was just a chess piece they could discard whenever they wanted, or pick up and use as they saw fit.

Glancing at Long Ao beside him, Long Chen smiled and said, "Hard to swallow, isn’t it?"

Long Ao didn’t try to hide it. "You’re right, I’m not. The Long Clan is too tyrannical. Putting everything else aside, just look at Dragon Valley. Why is it that only disciples from a Long Family of Third Level and above can enter, while those from a Fourth Level or below cannot?"

"Third Level Long Family?"

With a bitter smile, Long Chen said, "Long Ao, I’ll be honest with you. Even disciples of a Third Level Long Family aren’t qualified to enter Dragon Valley."

"Why is that?"

Long Ao was very surprised to hear this. After all, the rumors stated that the Long Clan had a clear rule: as long as they were a disciple from a Long Family of the Third Level or higher, they were qualified to enter Dragon Valley, find their own companion, and become a Dragon Martial Artist.

’If that was the case, why couldn’t disciples from a Third Level Long Family enter Dragon Valley?’

’And if that were true, how did Long Chen become a Dragon Martial Artist?’

Another bitter smile. Long Chen said helplessly, "Long Ao, there’s something you don’t know. Every year, the Long Clan openly selects disciples to enter Dragon Valley. The First Level Long Family and Second Level Long Family both have a set quota of spots. The remaining spots are decided through combat."

"Doesn’t the Third Level Long Family get any?"

"No. Over all these years, only a few people from our family have ever entered Dragon Valley, and the number of ancestors who ultimately became Dragon Martial Artists is less than five. As for me, I got lucky. I barely managed to rank 100th on the Dragon Ranking, so the Long Clan made an exception and gave the Third Level Long Family a spot as a reward."

Hearing this, Long Ao nearly fainted.

He had always thought that disciples of the Third Level Long Family were qualified to enter Dragon Valley and become Dragon Martial Artists. But now it seemed that only the First Level Long Family and Second Level Long Family truly controlled access to Dragon Valley. And the real decision-making power, he believed, was still in the hands of the First Level Long Family.

Long Ao was greatly looking forward to Long Qiang’s growth. After all, Long Qiang held the Dragon Race’s ultimate treasure, the Divine Dragon Pearl. If he could achieve Fusion with the Divine Dragon Pearl, there was no doubt that Long Qiang would one day become the new Dragon God of the Dragon Sect.

Once Long Qiang became the Dragon God, Long Ao had already decided: he would seize Dragon Valley from the Long Clan. In the future, his own family would become the new Long Clan.

"Long Ao, originally, because I was ranked 100th on the Dragon Ranking, I had the opportunity to go to the Long Clan to undergo a baptism. But now, you’ve been given that opportunity."

’Baptism?’

Long Ao had no idea what Long Chen was talking about and asked, "What’s a baptism?"

"Long Ao, there’s something you should know. The Long Clan has the Long Clan Ancestral Hall. Any outstanding disciple can enter the Long Clan Ancestral Hall to undergo a baptism. According to legend, after the baptism, those who are lucky will not only see their strength greatly increase, but might even obtain Lifebound Divine Abilities."